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Klára Aycox | KPV

| Naši absolventi

Klára Aycox graduated from our faculty at the Department of Primary Education after studying primary school teaching, and today her name is shaking up the Czech literary world. Her first work, a detective novel titled Pech (Tough Luck), is set in Liberec, but it is not only local readers who are singing her praises. What is she doing now? Writing another book?

Your detective story takes place halfway between Liberec and Jablonec, where you yourself currently live with your family. What made you decide to put the dead body behind your house?

I never really thought of it that way (laughter). I originally wrote the first story for my oldest son, so it seemed logical to set it in a familiar environment. Today, a lot of acquaintances who also live along the number eleven tram line enjoy it.

Here in Liberec, your first novel is a best seller. It was also published by Host publishing house, which provides a certain guarantee of quality. How have the people around you reacted to this success?

The people closest to me must have known what a genius I am! No, that was a joke. My sons have grown up a bit since I wrote Pech, but they still haven’t read it, and my husband’s Czech is only good enough to ask for rolls at the bakery, so the only feedback I’ve gotten is from acquaintances. Especially at a time when we haven’t been able to socialize, it’s been nice to hear from friends who’ve read the book and ask us how we’re doing.

You mentioned in one interview that after maternity leave, you would be going back into education. Do you think you’ll still have any time to write?

I’ve started working as an assistant teacher at the Education Center. Once our children start going to school and I won’t have to cook so much, I’ll certainly start writing again.

Do you have any other stories on the back burner? A continuation?

I’ve already got plenty of material in reserve, the most recent idea is a series featuring one of the minor characters from Pech, and this story is also set in Liberec.

Have you personally had any experiences on the legendary No. 11 tram that stand out in your mind?

Just like everyone else I suspect. We have a few colorful characters here.  Interestingly enough, Gábor from Vratislavice is a real character I heard about when a young man was talking very loudly on the phone in the tram. The absurdity of the phone call inspired me to work it into the plot.

Did you write much for yourself when you were a student?

Not at all. I do like to read, but I enjoy mathematics more than anything else. Pech was the first thing I had ever written, basically by chance.

What memories do you have of your studies at our faculty?

Those were five beautiful years during which I gave birth to three children, meaning that my brain was in a bit of a “breastfeeding fog” most of the time.  Looking back, I would like to thank all of my teachers for their enormous tolerance with respect to having babies in the classroom. And even though some of that time is a little foggy, I have fond memories of art education, which I draw upon both with my own children and now also at work. Also, the winter course, the excellent teaching in psychology classes, and all the teachers who understand the practical challenges of teaching and are able to pass on experience which will be useful to future teachers.